Easy life

Tom Kite talked with golf fans during Thursday�s Pro-Am golf round at TPC 3M Championship in Blaine.

Organizers are disappointed about competing with the British Open, but satisfied with the 3M field's big-name drawing power.

By BRIAN STENSAAS, Star Tribune

Last update: July 18, 2008 - 2:26 PM

3M Championship tournament director Hollis Cavner, to say the least, was not pleased when he found out this year's annual Champions Tour event was scheduled opposite the PGA Tour's British Open and just in front of next week's Senior British Open because of unforeseen scheduling conflicts.

"I hate this date," he said sternly. "But we're here, and we're putting on a great show."

Cavner, who aside from being the tournament director for four other events, is a good friend to many on the Champions Tour, said in early June that the 3M this year is without players such as Tom Watson (eight major championships), Nick Price (three) and Mark O'Meara (two) because of the major events overseas.

If it's prior major championships you're looking for, the 3M is still your spot.

Since joining the Champions Tour in 2005, Loren Roberts has won three of its majors, including a six-stroke triumph in last season's Senior Players Championship.

Those entered in this year's field -- which begins play today -- also include past winners of all four PGA majors and former Ryder Cup captains.

And though the 3M is technically just another tournament on the Champions Tour, those with experience at TPC Twin Cities say it is one of the year's biggest stops.

"Traditionally, they do a really great job here," Roberts said. "This is one of the better-attended events. It really has a major championship feel."

Since players such as Roberts have turned 50 -- the Champions Tour minimum -- in recent years Cavner said the tour has gotten back to the popularity level it had in the pre-Tiger Woods days of golf. Woods is out of competition for at least the rest of the year following knee surgery after last month's U.S. Open victory.

"Arnold [Palmer], Chi Chi [Rodriguez] [Jack] Nicklaus, all those guys were playing," Cavner said. "And quite frankly, we were as popular as the regular tour.

"Our players are better known than the regular tour players. You throw out Tiger and maybe one or two others, and they have to dig pretty deep. Our guys, everybody knows them."

Prior golf successes obviously have something to do with the recognition factor. But players remaining competitive is also another factor.

"[Bernhard] Langer almost won last year's [PGA Tour event at] Colonial at age 49 for heaven's sake," Roberts said. "All the guys coming out here can still play."

And when they're at the 3M, it's the royal treatment from Cavner.

His Pro Links Sports management company has staffers in from Texas and Florida this week.

"The younger [players] are told [by their peers] they're taken care of out here," Cavner said. "You have to make it good, because there's such a competition for these guys' time."

Joey Sindelar, who joined the tour after turning 50 in March, said his prior perceptions of the tour weren't favorable.

"Maybe some gallery ropes and a couple of marshals," he quipped.

But in the 10 events he's played, he said everything has been a pleasant surprise.

"I was wrong," he said. "This is really nice stuff."

Total tournament-day attendance at the 3M has been 100,000 or more every year dating to 1993. In addition, the tournament has raised more than million for charity every year since 2001.

Minnesota native Tom Lehman turns 50 before next year's event. Even though he has made no formal commitment to the tour, don't expect any hype to die down.

"I think [Lehman] will play more than he says," Cavner said. "Tom's made a lot of money, he's set. But he's a competitor. He'll want to come out and beat people. Here, he'll have the opportunity to do it a lot."

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